To all the Lowe naysayers

[wildwest]

I may not be a hockey expert, but I think we are underestimating the genious of the Visnovsky aquisition.

From where I stand, the biggest contract given out on the first day of free agency was Brian Campbell 8 years at a value of 7.1 million/year.

I don't get the diference between Campbell and Visnovsky.

They are the same size, their scouting reports read like carbon copies. Vis is 2 years older but signed for only 5 years at a cap hit of 5.6 million.

Campbell is being heralded for a 8 goal, 62 point that was clearly his best while Visnovsky is being roasted for his worst season in 3 with 8 goals 41 points after 2 Campbell like seasons previously (58 and 67 points with more than double his goal count (17 and 18).

[Wilkie12]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

I believe it's better to trade for a player with a contract than get into a bidding war and over-pay for a free agent. The trade route also allows a team to send some salary the other way.

Should Hossa decide on Edmonton, the Oilers will be over the salary cap and will need to jettison some contracts. If Kevin Lowe can do that without hurting the team or angering the fans, he will have out-performed all of the other GM's this summer.

[Nanookster]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

Lowe is a great GM, now he has money to play with. He'll be even better.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

He had money to play with before. He was always allowed to spend to the cap.

[Cynegetic Dawg]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

He had money to play with before. He was always allowed to spend to the cap.

That is false. The EIG, before last year never gave Lowe the go-ahead to spend as much as he needed. He was always under a self-imposed budget.

The only reason the EIG spent last year was because of Daryl Katz coming in with his offers and promising to spend to the cap if he was made owner.

[Nanookster]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

He had money to play with before. He was always allowed to spend to the cap.

No he didn't. Money was the problem.

[Muley69]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

He had money to play with before. He was always allowed to spend to the cap.

You obviously aren't reading the entries in the "Great Article on the EIG" thread...

[Muley69]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

Kevin Lowe, unequivocally, is a top 5 (even top 3) GM in this league.

[Beerfish]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

Kevin Lowe, unequivocally, is a top 5 (even top 3) GM in this league.

His record as a gm would indicate otherwise. I like some moves Lowe has made some have been pretty lousy. If Lowe gets sunk, in the end it won't be because of his player moves, it will be because of his loyality to a coach that isn't getting it done.

[Nanookster]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

You obviously aren't reading the entries in the "Great Article on the EIG" thread...

Exactly, it is revealing a lot, which I have been saying all along. You don't lose players like Weight, Arnott, Cujo, and Smyth if your owners are willing to spend.

[newton]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

Exactly, it is revealing a lot, which I have been saying all along. You don't lose players like Weight, Arnott, Cujo, and Smyth if your owners are willing to spend.

Maybe you heard ...the NHL had a lockout ...and then imposed a salary cap Arnott, Cujo and Weight have no bearing on today.- and Kevin Lowe admitted that losing Ryan Smyth was a mistake on his part.

Last year the Oilers spent $49.747 (out of $50.3 million max) million dollars on a team that finished out of the playoffs, and except for a nice run at the end when the season was out of reach ...didn't even perform respectably. So adding a richer owner doesnt give them more budget, they spent the max last year.

Top 3 GM's in the NHL? As a Flames fan I am sure happy you think so.

[Beerfish]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

You obviously aren't reading the entries in the "Great Article on the EIG" thread...

2001/2002 Boston, St. louis, Pheonix, LA finished ahead of the oilers
2002/2003 st louis and tampa bay finished ahead of the oilers
2003/2004 Tampa, boston, Carolina, st louis, nashville, Calgary finished ahead of the oilers
2005/2006 carolina, buffalo, nashville, calgary finished ahead of the oilers
2006/2007 buffalo, nashville, pittsburgh, atlanta, calgary, tampa finished ahead of the oilers.

The oilers of the past faced the problem of the non level playing field money wise but so did alot of other small market/small spending teams. I will acknowledge that things were tough on the oilers then and I certainly didn't expect them to challenge for a division title, however other teams found a way to be better and make the playoffs.

[Diesel]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

and Kevin Lowe admitted that losing Ryan Smyth was a mistake on his part.

I think he would change his tune on that now.

[Muley69]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

The sins of the past (Sather et al) and, in particular, our drafting record under them effed this team for a great amount of time. You don't "fix" that overnight and have an instant contender.

'02 - '04 had as much to do with the economic situation with the Oilers as anything else.

The past few years, IMO, have seen some dramatic turnaround in the team from top-to-bottom, with Lowe pulling the trigger on a number of trades that have proven to be dynamite for us. I stand by my conviction that he is one of the best GM's in the league.

[Deathsdoorstep]

Re: To all the Lowe naysayers

The sins of the past (Sather et al) and, in particular, our drafting record under them effed this team for a great amount of time. You don't "fix" that overnight and have an instant contender.

'02 - '04 had as much to do with the economic situation with the Oilers as anything else.

The past few years, IMO, have seen some dramatic turnaround in the team from top-to-bottom, with Lowe pulling the trigger on a number of trades that have proven to be dynamite for us. I stand by my conviction that he is one of the best GM's in the league.

He also had to stock an AHL team.